Who the Hell Asked For the Ezra Miller Comeback?

It’s been a while since we heard from Ezra Miller. That’s probably a good thing. The once-promising actor went on an extensively documented spree of mayhem, violence, and alleged abuse that overshadowed their work. They were caught on camera choking a woman. They were arrested several times for charges including disorderly conduct and harassment. One couple was granted a temporary restraining order against Miller after Miller allegedly threatened them and stole one of their passports. Miller was also accused of grooming and manipulating a young woman, and of telling people that they were a Messiah to the Native American population. Also, there were burglary charges thrown into the mix too.

Miller was basically wheeled out for the briefest of red carpet appearances for The Flash then sent away, as Warner Bros. desperately tried to keep its head in the sand for fear that all those pesky incidents of violence and alleged grooming would damage their box office grosses (the film was a flop, more because it was rubbish than because of Miller.)

That was over two years ago, but now, Miller is seemingly dipping their toes back into the world of film. They were spotted briefly at the Cannes premiere for Die, My Love, the new film by director Lynne Ramsay. The pair worked together on We Need to Talk About Kevin, which was Miller’s biggest role to date at that point. Now, Ramsay says she’s working on a new project for Miller.

Ramsay told The Los Angeles Times: “I’m making a vampire movie. It’s with Ezra Miller who was in Kevin. He’s the main character. That’s in development.’

I must say: Lynne Ramsay is one of my favourite filmmakers and I’ve spent years hoping she’d make a vampire movie, so this is a real cursed monkey’s paw moment for me.

Okay, let’s also slow our rolls here. Ramsay doesn’t make many movies. She’s an indie darling but not a commercial giant (although Die, My Love sold to MUBI for a lot of money so that might change.) She also has a few films she’s been working on for years with little to no updates, including one called Polaris starring Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix. This vampire movie has no distribution deal or starting date for shooting or even a title. This is just her throwing out her current plans to the world, maybe as a trial balloon or to drum up attention. So, it’s not exactly an Ezra Miller comeback, right? But still, who asked for this?

Look, Miller is talented, and their mental health struggles are reportedly pretty extensive. In the statement they issued to apologize for past behaviour in August 2022, they said that they had “gone through a time of intense crisis” and had begun treatment for “complex mental health issues.” I hope they’re healing. I really do. I’m not sure that goes hand in hand with returning to Hollywood right now.

It’s also tough to separate Miller’s behaviour from how Warner Bros. all but ignored it because the studio was so terrified of doing anything that might damage The Flash, a mediocre movie that critics and audiences alike rejected. It became clear very quickly during that crime spree that Miller’s cruelties and abuses would be excused if WB could get some money out of their troubled actor’s on-screen work. Aside from all but condoning Miller’s violence, they also pretty much ignored the mental health issues. It was both callous and sleazy. What if Miller had gone further and hurt others or themself? At what point would Warner Bros. have felt the need to actually do or say something?

I do still want a Lynne Ramsay vampire movie. Just cast Tilda again. Problem solved.